to her or he’d never forgive himself. If there was anything but three more dates and a funeral in their future, he’d have to use this opportunity to tell her the truth.
“Devon, some day you’re going to have to trust someone. I just hope you make the right choice, because your radar is all bass-ackwards.”
She started a reflexive glare and then stopped herself.
“I’d never do anything to belittle you, hurt you, or intentionally cause you any kind of pain. But you’re going to have to give me the benefit of the doubt and quit judging me like I’m some ogre with malfeasance on his brain. You’re a lovely lady, but no honorable man appreciates having his intentions questioned, his words dissected or his mannerisms criticized.”
He wasn’t sure she’d gotten the message. Hell, he wasn’t sure if he’d delivered it clearly enough. He wasn’t sure exactly what he’d wanted to get across, actually.
The silence between them was killing him. He wasn’t going to tone down his statements, though. She’d have to take the whole enchilada or— Or what? He could tell she was struggling with something. After a big sigh, she answered him.
“I apologize,” she said curtly. Almost too neat. Those red lips were tempting him.. Maybe she was a little more fun when she was angry, but fuck, it wasn’t the way he was supposed to act around a lady. Wasn’t fair to her. It wasn’t what he really wanted, either.
In her occasionally miraculous way, she broke the ice, and he was grateful for it.
“So you won’t misinterpret my intentions, then?” He could see she was trying to be very proper. No smile on that flawless face. Did he see something devilish lurking there? Or was he seeing what he wanted to see? Her dark eyes and lush lashes glistened in the dimly lit room.
He decided to play along. “What intentions?”
“I want you to start with the oysters.”
Chapter 12
Devon wished she’d requested a dark corner instead of the fireplace front and center, where everyone’s eyes landed when they entered the restaurant. They had no privacy as their legs locked under the table, and they ate holding hands as much as possible. He watched everything she did during dinner with rapt attention. Every time she licked her lips or closed her eyes when she savored something delicious he stopped and watched her, and smiled.
The pressure deep inside her belly grew into a dull ache that demanded release. Her body was giving her all the signals that life for her was about to change. She would no longer be the same woman she was tonight. She would feel the touch of a man’s hands on her body, a lover’s touch. She wanted him to be the one. What happened in the future would have to take care of itself when the time came. She was going to make this night a gift to herself. An indulgence she’d never allowed herself to dream might happen.
Outside the restaurant he walked her to a nearby park bench. Sitting down, he patted his knee. “Let’s talk, Devon.”
She did as instructed and sat, leaning her head into the firmness between his neck and shoulder. His arm was wrapped around her, holding her tight against him. Every time she inhaled, she absorbed the scent of him. She heard and felt the steady thumping of his heart, matching her own.
“Where would you like to go?”
She sat up. She’d not thought about that, but of course he had.
“I want it to be special,” he whispered into the side of her face as he kissed her hair.
Special? How could it not be special?
“We can go back to Sophie’s—“
“No.”
Just the way he said it made her panties wet.
“I didn’t bring anything. I mean I was expecting we’d go back there.”
“Were you, really?” His thumb and forefinger held her chin. His lips rubbed against hers. “I want to make love to you, Devon Brandeburg, and I want to do it right.”
His warm lips tasted of the delicious Merlot they’d had with dinner.
“I can’t think, Nick.
“Devon, some day you’re going to have to trust someone. I just hope you make the right choice, because your radar is all bass-ackwards.”
She started a reflexive glare and then stopped herself.
“I’d never do anything to belittle you, hurt you, or intentionally cause you any kind of pain. But you’re going to have to give me the benefit of the doubt and quit judging me like I’m some ogre with malfeasance on his brain. You’re a lovely lady, but no honorable man appreciates having his intentions questioned, his words dissected or his mannerisms criticized.”
He wasn’t sure she’d gotten the message. Hell, he wasn’t sure if he’d delivered it clearly enough. He wasn’t sure exactly what he’d wanted to get across, actually.
The silence between them was killing him. He wasn’t going to tone down his statements, though. She’d have to take the whole enchilada or— Or what? He could tell she was struggling with something. After a big sigh, she answered him.
“I apologize,” she said curtly. Almost too neat. Those red lips were tempting him.. Maybe she was a little more fun when she was angry, but fuck, it wasn’t the way he was supposed to act around a lady. Wasn’t fair to her. It wasn’t what he really wanted, either.
In her occasionally miraculous way, she broke the ice, and he was grateful for it.
“So you won’t misinterpret my intentions, then?” He could see she was trying to be very proper. No smile on that flawless face. Did he see something devilish lurking there? Or was he seeing what he wanted to see? Her dark eyes and lush lashes glistened in the dimly lit room.
He decided to play along. “What intentions?”
“I want you to start with the oysters.”
Chapter 12
Devon wished she’d requested a dark corner instead of the fireplace front and center, where everyone’s eyes landed when they entered the restaurant. They had no privacy as their legs locked under the table, and they ate holding hands as much as possible. He watched everything she did during dinner with rapt attention. Every time she licked her lips or closed her eyes when she savored something delicious he stopped and watched her, and smiled.
The pressure deep inside her belly grew into a dull ache that demanded release. Her body was giving her all the signals that life for her was about to change. She would no longer be the same woman she was tonight. She would feel the touch of a man’s hands on her body, a lover’s touch. She wanted him to be the one. What happened in the future would have to take care of itself when the time came. She was going to make this night a gift to herself. An indulgence she’d never allowed herself to dream might happen.
Outside the restaurant he walked her to a nearby park bench. Sitting down, he patted his knee. “Let’s talk, Devon.”
She did as instructed and sat, leaning her head into the firmness between his neck and shoulder. His arm was wrapped around her, holding her tight against him. Every time she inhaled, she absorbed the scent of him. She heard and felt the steady thumping of his heart, matching her own.
“Where would you like to go?”
She sat up. She’d not thought about that, but of course he had.
“I want it to be special,” he whispered into the side of her face as he kissed her hair.
Special? How could it not be special?
“We can go back to Sophie’s—“
“No.”
Just the way he said it made her panties wet.
“I didn’t bring anything. I mean I was expecting we’d go back there.”
“Were you, really?” His thumb and forefinger held her chin. His lips rubbed against hers. “I want to make love to you, Devon Brandeburg, and I want to do it right.”
His warm lips tasted of the delicious Merlot they’d had with dinner.
“I can’t think, Nick.
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